Jewish community prepares for Hanukkah

Rabbi Moshe Lieblich stands beside the menorah at Chabad of Wilmington on Market Street in Wilmington on Dec. 7, 2012. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins Dec. 8. The rabbi's congregation will have a menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 9, at Riverfront Park.

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of light, begins at sundown Saturday, and Wilmington-area Jewish congregations are preparing to celebrate.

Chabad of Wilmington, a Chasidic Orthodox congregation, plans a public menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday downtown in Wilmington's Riverfront Park. City officials will allow the 9-foot Menorah – assembled and painted in part by children from Chabad's school – to remain in place for all eight days, according to Rabbi Moishe Lieblich. Previously, the city had required Chabad to take down the menorah after the lighting ceremony.

The ceremonial lighting will be preceded by a juggling show and followed by traditional dances. Traditional emblems of Hanukkah – including doughnuts (sufganiot), chocolate coins (gelt) and the distinctive four-sided tops called dreidels – will be distributed to those present, Lieblich said.

B'nai Israel, the Conservative synagogue, will hold a menorah-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday in its building at 2601 Chestnut St. "We'll have some songs, some music, some food," said Rabbi Robert Waxman. A Hanukkah Sabbath service will follow at 6 p.m. Dec. 14, with recognition for new students at B'nai Israel's religious school.

Wilmington's Temple of Israel will hold a combination Hanukkah and new member recognition service at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 in the temple building at 1 S. Fourth St. More than 30 new families have joined the Reform congregation since last year, according to Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky. Special music is planned with cantorial assistant Charlotte Rosenberg and Mark Ferrer on guitar and keyboard. A baby naming is also planned.

The name "Hanukkah" means "dedication," Sidlofsky said. The holiday begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. (Since the Hebrew calendar is based on lunar cycles, the date on the Gregorian calendar shifts from year to year.)

Hanukkah, or Chanukkah, marks the rededication of the second Temple of Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt, more than 2,100 years ago. According to the Talmud, there was only enough olive oil to light the temple's menorah, or candle-holder, for one night, yet the lights burned miraculously for eight days.

Modern interpreters see Hanukkah as symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over corruption and spirituality over materialism.

"Hanukkah is a celebration of religious freedom," Waxman said. In light of current events, he added, "we should be grateful for the religious freedom we have in the United States. As I tell our young people, though, with freedom comes responsibility."

<p>Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of light, begins at sundown Saturday, and Wilmington-area Jewish congregations are preparing to celebrate.</p><p>Chabad of Wilmington, a Chasidic Orthodox congregation, plans a public menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday downtown in Wilmington's Riverfront Park. City officials will allow the 9-foot Menorah – assembled and painted in part by children from Chabad's school – to remain in place for all eight days, according to Rabbi Moishe Lieblich. Previously, the city had required Chabad to take down the menorah after the lighting ceremony.</p><p>The ceremonial lighting will be preceded by a juggling show and followed by traditional dances. Traditional emblems of Hanukkah – including doughnuts (sufganiot), chocolate coins (gelt) and the distinctive four-sided tops called dreidels – will be distributed to those present, Lieblich said.</p><p>B'nai Israel, the Conservative synagogue, will hold a menorah-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday in its building at 2601 Chestnut St. "We'll have some songs, some music, some food," said Rabbi Robert Waxman. A Hanukkah Sabbath service will follow at 6 p.m. Dec. 14, with recognition for new students at B'nai Israel's religious school.</p><p>Wilmington's Temple of Israel will hold a combination Hanukkah and new member recognition service at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 in the temple building at 1 S. Fourth St. More than 30 new families have joined the Reform congregation since last year, according to Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky. Special music is planned with cantorial assistant Charlotte Rosenberg and Mark Ferrer on guitar and keyboard. A baby naming is also planned.</p><p>The name "Hanukkah" means "dedication," Sidlofsky said. The holiday begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. (Since the Hebrew calendar is based on lunar cycles, the date on the Gregorian calendar shifts from year to year.)</p><p>Hanukkah, or Chanukkah, marks the rededication of the second Temple of Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt, more than 2,100 years ago. According to the Talmud, there was only enough olive oil to light the temple's menorah, or candle-holder, for one night, yet the lights burned miraculously for eight days.</p><p>Modern interpreters see Hanukkah as symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over corruption and spirituality over materialism.</p><p>"Hanukkah is a celebration of religious freedom," Waxman said. In light of current events, he added, "we should be grateful for the religious freedom we have in the United States. As I tell our young people, though, with freedom comes responsibility."</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic14"><b>Ben Steelman</b></a>: 343-2208</p>